Wig cap

ABSTRACT

In a wig cap of flexible netting fabric formed in the shape of a human cranium, a strip of elastomeric material attached to the interior surface of the netting fabric adjacent the anterior portion of its border, resists slippage of the wig cap by frictional engagement with the wearer&#39;s forehead. In an alternative embodiment comb-shaped clips attached to the interior surface of the netting fabric adjacent the anterior portion of its border engage the wearer&#39;s natural hair to resist slippage.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to wig caps, and particularly to an improved wigcap having a feature for resisting slippage relative to a wearer's head.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A typical wig cap is an article composed of a flexible fabric ornet-like material shaped to be worn on the head underneath a wig to holdthe wig in place so that the wig is resistant to displacement bygravity, inertia, or a direct pulling or pushing. In the case of a wiguser who is bald, either naturally or due to chemotherapy or othermedical treatment, the wig cap is used primarily to hold the wig inplace. In the case of a wig user having natural hair, the wig cap canalso be used to ensure that the natural hair is hidden from exposure. Atypical wig cap either includes a stretchable border to hold it inplace, or one or more adjustable straps that enable the border to beadjusted to fit the wearer's head.

A problem with conventional wig caps is that in order to resistdisplacement on the wearer's head reliably, either the stretchableborder must have a high elastic modulus, or the straps must be adjustedto a high level of tightness. In either case, the tight fit of the wigcap can cause some discomfort.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a wig cap that is more comfortable to the wearer,and at the same time capable of resisting displacement reliably.

In a first embodiment, the anterior portion of the interior of the wigcap is provided with an elastomeric strip that holds the wig cap inplace by frictional engagement with the wearer's forehead. In a secondembodiment, used where the wearer has natural hair, one or morecomb-like clips hold the wig cap in place by engagement with thewearer's natural hair.

The wig cap in accordance with the invention comprises a sheet offlexible netting fabric formed in the shape of a human cranium. Thesheet of fabric has a border shaped to surround a human head about thecaudal axis and is formed with a recess shaped and positioned inrelation to the border to receive and fit snugly onto the superiorportion of the head. The sheet of flexible netting fabric is shaped tobe substantially symmetrical with respect to a sagittal plane when wornon the head. The border has an anterior portion positioned to extendlaterally across a wearer's forehead and a posterior portion positionedto extend laterally across the posterior part of the wearer's head. Thesheet of flexible netting fabric has an interior surface, and means,attached to the interior surface adjacent the anterior portion of theborder, for resisting slippage of the wig cap relative to the wearer'shead.

In one embodiment of the wig cap, the means for resisting slippage ofthe wig cap relative to the wearer's head comprises a strip ofelastomeric material fastened to the interior surface of the sheet ofnetting fabric adjacent the anterior portion of the border. Theelastomeric material is engageable with the wearer's forehead and has acoefficient of friction greater than that of the netting material sothat friction between the strip of elastomeric material and the wearer'sforehead resists slippage of the wig cap relative to the wearer's head.

In another embodiment, the means for resisting slippage of the wig caprelative to the wearer's head comprises a comb-shaped clip having a baseportion fastened to the interior surface of the sheet of netting fabricadjacent the anterior portion of its border. The comb-shaped clip hasplural teeth protruding from its base portion for engagement with thewearer's hair on the anterior portion of the wearer's head. The meansfor resisting slippage of the wig cap relative to the wearer's head cancomprise at least two comb-shaped clips, each having a base portionfastened to the interior surface of the sheet netting fabric adjacentthe anterior portion of its border. In this case, each of thecomb-shaped clips has plural teeth protruding from its base portion forengagement with the wearer's hair on the anterior portion of thewearer's head.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wig cap in accordance with a firstembodiment of the invention, as seen from location to the left, to therear, and above the wig cap;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the wig cap of FIG. 1 as seen from alocation to the rear, and below the wig cap;

FIG. 3 is a left side elevational view showing the wig cap of the firstembodiment in use, the wig cap being partly broken away to show therelationship between the elastomeric band and the wearer's forehead;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a wig cap in accordance with a secondembodiment of the invention, as seen from location to the rear, andbelow the wig cap; and

FIG. 5 is a left side elevational view showing the wig cap of the secondembodiment in use, The wig cap being partly broken away to show therelationship between one of the comb-shaped clips and the wearer'snatural hair.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The wig cap 10, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, is composed of a sheet offlexible netting fabric which can be formed of any of a wide variety ofnatural and synthetic materials. A preferred material is nylon. In thecase of nylon or other meltable synthetic materials, the yarns can befused to one another at their intersections. The netting fabric can alsobe formed of woven or knitted yarns of various materials.

The principal components of the wig cap are a central panel 12, and twoside panels 14 (FIGS. 2) and 16. The central panel is shaped to extendfrom a posterior portion 18 (FIG. 1) of a border to an anterior portion20 (FIG. 2). The side panels, which are symmetrically disposed onopposite sides of the central panel, are joined to the central panel 12at seams 22 and 24 in the embodiment shown, but can be unitary with thecentral panel in other embodiments.

A border of the sheet of netting fabric is composed of the posterior andanterior portions 18 and 20, and the edge portions of the side panelsthat extend from the posterior portion to the anterior portions. Asshown in FIG. 1, The edge portion of side panel 16 has a steppedconfiguration, being composed of generally horizontal parts 26 and 28,connected to each other by a vertical part 30. Part 26 meets the centralpanel 12 at a location slightly above border portion 18, forming a smallstep having a vertical portion 32. The opposite side panel 14, beingsymmetrical with panel 16, has a similar configuration and relationshipto the central panel 12.

The wig cap 10 is formed in the shape of a human cranium by forming thenetting fabric with a recess shaped and positioned in relation to theborder to receive and fit snugly onto the superior portion of a wearer'shead in such a way that the sheet of flexible netting fabric issubstantially symmetrical with respect to a sagittal plane.

Adjusting straps 34 and 36 are sewn to the respective side panels andextend respectively along border part 26 of side panel 16 and itscounterpart, border part 36, of side panel 14. Strap 34 cooperates witha buckle 38 fastened to panel 12, and strap 36 cooperates with a buckle40, also fastened to panel 12, to allow the wearer to adjust the fit ofthe wig cap by lengthening or reducing the border.

As shown in FIG. 2, an elastomeric strip 40 is disposed on, and fastenedto, the interior surface of the wig cap and extends parallel to borderportion 26 of the central panel 12, parallel to border portion 28 ofside panel 16, and parallel to border portion 42 (FIG. 2) of side panel14. The strip may be sewn to the netting material, or fastened by othermeans, e.g., by an adhesive, or by fusing.

Strip 40 is preferably composed of rubber or a rubber-like material thathas a higher coefficient of friction than that of the netting material,in relation to the skin of an individual's forehead. The strip 40preferably extends continuously across the inner surface of the anteriorpart of the central panel 12 and past seams 22 and 24 onto the innersurfaces of the side panels 14 and 16. Alternatively, the strip can bedisposed only on the inner surface of central panel 12, or can becomposed of plural discrete parts, disposed on the inner surface ofpanel 12 or on the inner surfaces of panels 12, 14 and 16. In any case,the strip is preferably positioned a short distance, e.g., 1 cm, abovethe borders 20, 28 and 42.

As shown in FIG. 2, reinforcing strips, which can be composed of thesame netting material from which the panels are made, extend from pointsadjacent the ends of the strip 40 to points adjacent the ends of borderportions 42 and 28.

FIG. 3 shows the wig cap of FIGS. 1 and 2, worn by an individual who isbald. The stepped configuration of the border of the wig cap providesclearance for the wearer's ears, while allowing the anterior portion ofthe netting material to extend downward over the forehead so that thestrip can contact the individual's forehead at a location (consideringthe cranium to approximate a sphere) nearly diametrically opposed to thelocation of the adjusting straps 34 and 36. When the strip isdiametrically opposite the locations of the adjusting straps, frictionbetween strip 40 and the individual's forehead can most effectivelyprevent displacement of the wig cap without excessive tightening of theadjusting straps.

Although the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 is especiallysuitable for use by an individual having no hair, it can also be used byindividuals having hair. In the latter case, the hair may need to betrimmed or pulled back to ensure that the elastomeric strip 40 cancontact the forehead directly without significant amounts of interposednatural hair interposed between the strip 40 and the forehead.

The wig cap of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 has a configurationsimilar to that of the wig cap of the previously described embodiment,and corresponding parts are designated by corresponding referencenumbers followed by the prime (′) symbol. The principal differencebetween the two embodiments is that in the latter, the elastomeric strip40 is not present, and instead, two comb-shaped toothed clips 48 and 50are utilized to secure the wig cap against displacement by engaging thewearer's natural hair.

The comb-shaped clips are secured to the inner surface of the anteriorpart of the netting material near the border 20′, with their teeth 52and 54 extending upward, i.e., away from base portions 56 and 58positioned adjacent border 20′. The clips can be secured to the nettingmaterial by any of various means. For example, base portions of theclips may be provided with through holes 60 and 62, through whichthreads may be passed for sewing the clips to the netting fabric. Eachclip has a plurality of, e.g., eight, teeth with bulbous ends thatpreferably contact one another in order to resist movement of hairoutward from between the teeth of the clip. Although in a preferredembodiment two such clips are provided, similar results can be achievedwith one, or more than two, comb-shaped clips.

As shown in FIG. 5, the clip 50 is engaged with the wearer's naturalhair 64. Clip 48 (not shown in FIG. 5) is similarly engaged with thewearer's natural hair. As in the first embodiment, the clips arepreferably positioned so that, assuming the wearer's cranium is in theshape of a sphere, the clips are approximately diametrically oppositelocations on an imaginary line aligned with the adjusting straps 34′ and36′.

In the first embodiment, the elastomeric strip frictionally engages thewearer's forehead, thereby resisting slippage of the wig cap. In thesecond embodiment, a similar result is achieved by engagement of one ormore comb-like clips with the wearer's natural hair. In both cases, theposition of the slippage-resisting means on the anterior portion of thesheet of netting material opposite the adjusting straps on the posteriorside enables the wig cap to be held securely in place without excessivetightening of the adjusting straps and without discomfort to the wearer.

What is claimed is:
 1. A wig cap comprising a sheet of flexible nettingfabric formed in the shape of a human cranium, said fabric having aborder shaped to surround a human head about the caudal axis and beingformed with a recess shaped and positioned in relation to said border toreceive and fit snugly onto the superior portion of the head, said sheetof flexible netting fabric being shaped to be substantially symmetricalwith respect to a sagittal plane when worn on the head, and said borderhaving an anterior portion positioned to extend laterally across awearer's forehead and a posterior portion positioned to extend laterallyacross the posterior part of the wearer's head, said sheet of flexiblenetting fabric having an interior surface and means, attached to saidinterior surface adjacent the anterior portion of said border, forresisting slippage of the wig cap relative to the wearer's head.
 2. Awig cap according to claim 1, wherein said means for resisting slippageof the wig cap relative to the wearer's head comprises a strip ofelastomeric material fastened to said interior surface adjacent theanterior portion of said border, said elastomeric material beingengageable with the wearer's forehead and having a coefficient offriction greater than that of the netting material, whereby frictionbetween said strip of elastomeric material and the wearer's foreheadresists slippage of the wig cap relative to the wearer's head.
 3. A wigcap according to claim 1, wherein said means for resisting slippage ofthe wig cap relative to the wearer's head comprises a comb-shaped cliphaving a base portion fastened to said interior surface adjacent theanterior portion of said border, said comb-shaped clip having pluralteeth protruding from said base portion for engagement with the wearer'shair on the anterior portion of the wearer's head.
 4. A wig capaccording to claim 1, wherein said means for resisting slippage of thewig cap relative to the wearer's head comprises at least two comb-shapedclips each having a base portion fastened to said interior surfaceadjacent the anterior portion of said border, each of said comb-shapedclips having plural teeth protruding from its said base portion forengagement with the wearer's hair on the anterior portion of thewearer's head.
 5. A wig cap comprising a sheet of flexible nettingfabric formed in the shape of a human cranium, said fabric having aborder shaped to surround a human head about the caudal axis and beingformed with a recess shaped and positioned in relation to said border toreceive and fit snugly onto the superior portion of the head, said sheetof flexible netting fabric being shaped to be substantially symmetricalwith respect to a sagittal plane when worn on the head, and said borderhaving an anterior portion positioned to extend laterally across awearer's forehead and a posterior portion positioned to extend laterallyacross the posterior part of the wearer's head, said sheet of flexiblenetting fabric having an interior surface, and having a strip ofelastomeric material fastened to said interior surface adjacent theanterior portion of said border, said elastomeric material beingengageable with the wearer's forehead and having a coefficient offriction greater than that of the netting material, whereby frictionbetween said strip of elastomeric material and the wearer's foreheadresists slippage of the wig cap relative to the wearer's head.